National Affairs: Open Letter

When Admiral Louis Denfeld, who also took his stand against Defense
Secretary Johnson and the workings of the unification act, was
summarily fired as Chief of Naval Operations last October, he was
offered another post: command of U.S. naval forces in the Eastern
Atlantic and Mediterranean. Last week, in a blistering letter, mild
"Uncle Louie" Denfeld told Navy Secretary Francis Matthews he was
turning down the job and announced he was considering retirement from
the Navy. Wrote Denfeld:

"You requested my removal from duty as Chief of Naval Operations, giving
among the reasons therefor that I was, in your opinion, not loyal...